create spaces where everyone feels safe. But then, if they're not having the real conversations, then they're not really brave spaces and so then we can't really push the sort of collective wisdom forward . And I think that that's something I am thinking about a lot nowadays...have I created such a safe space that we’re pandering to a ‘non fact’ world? Which is sort of a mirroring of the national scene. So I do worry about that.” (R13) ● One respondent expressed the need for a national network of Extension educators/Community of Practice with a unified voice around climate change and recognized that the National Extension Climate Initiative is “a step in the right direction”: “NECI [National Extension Climate Initiative] is a cross-initiative or cross-association with the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals or NACDEP and ANREP [Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals]. And so it’s really nice because we’re bridging across those different Extension professions and roles .” (R08) Tradition, Conventional Institutional Frameworks & Incentive Structures Speaking to the so- called university “silo effect”, interview respondents discussed the lack of a “home” within Extension for systems-level, intersectional, cross- disciplinary, or “nexus” programming. They also shared insights about bias (past and present) of conventional institutional frameworks and incentive structures. A number of respondents shared the perspective that the traditional delineation of Extension program areas (youth & 4-H, FYCS, NR, Ag, etc.) does not provide the appropriate or adaptable framework needed for developing, delivering, and reporting impacts of climate-related programs. Somehow, we need to create and implement an Extension reporting structure that effectively and reliably captures the scope, outcomes, and value of these high-level, trans-disciplinary systems programs. Early adopters argue that Extension needs to break away from this university silo effect.
● “I sometimes feel like a little bit of the odd person out; it's cross-cutting. So it doesn't really fit into the usual sort of Extension programming.” (R01)
● “ Another challenge is increasing weather and climate literacy of Extension professionals and confidence as well on how to best integrate the information into their existing programming. So here in (STATE) I'm always trying to emphasize that I'm not asking them to become an expert in another area or to go out and do a program just focused on weather and climate, because most of the time, their stakeholders don't want a presentation about climate science, but there are elements of climate science that they can integrate into existing programs that their stakeholders are interested in. And so, helping folks to feel confident and comfortable doing that and to have the vocabulary and knowledge to do it as well [is important].” (R10)
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